A warning has been issued to households to be vigilant when opening doors.
With concerns over distraction burglaries in Merseyside, Merseyside Police has shared some top tips to help protect the most vulnerable and older members of the community. Distraction burglaries occur when a person pretends to be someone they are not in order to gain entry to your home.
The ECHO previously reported how police officers were called to almost 4,000 burglaries in just 12 months in the region. In September one man, Larry Rooney, appeared before the court after several distraction burglaries, which left elderly victims "scared to answer the door".
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The St Helens policing team confirmed that common methods used by distraction burglars includes someone pretending to be from a care agency, the council or a utility company investigating a gas or water leak or someone seeking help to leave a note for a neighbour.
Other common distractions are if someone claims to be in a hurry or emergency and seeks access to your home or if people work in teams with one person distracting you with a query while the other searches inside your home.
But to protect yourself, and vulnerable neighbours, households are being encouraged to follow simple steps to prevent being burgled. These include:
- Use your door viewer to see who’s there
- If you open the door put the chain on first
- Always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody into your home
- Use the phone number advertised in the phone book or online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this
- Remember that genuine callers won’t mind checks. If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there
- For pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up
- If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the caller, call 999.
More information about preventing burglars from entering your property can be found on the Merseyside Police website here.
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